So, did I mention that Moo needs an AAC?

For the un-initiated (a position that I have barely moved past), an AAC is an Augmentative and Alternative Communication Device. AKA a speech device.

It’s not that Moo can’t talk. He can. At times, he can talk really well. At other times, not so good.

The older he gets, the more complicated his speech patterns become, the longer his sentences become, and the less able he is to get through a sentence without running out of breath. And if he runs out of breath, he goes right back to the start of the sentence again, only to run out of breath and voice before he finishes. You may see a pattern developing here.

The other thing is parents understand their children before their toddler voice matures.  But if you don’t have a toddler, you really don’t understand what the kid is saying. Moo’s voice really hasn’t matured yet and sometimes, I think he is Scrappy talking. He still sounds like a toddler and it is as frustrating for him as it is for me.

So after speaking to a speechie, I started looking around at what was available via the internet. And then I had a great big heart attack. I thought a wheelchair was expensive. Most of these devices start at $7K. Where are we going to find the money for that?

And the whole reason for getting a device is to assist him with the complicated thought patterns. We are not looking at a simple device.

I had heard about Proloquo2go from a couple of my favourite web-sites – InkyEd and Teaching Learners with Multiple Special Needs.  I am so lucky to have access to such wonderful web-sites and particularly seeing as though I know Gina in person who is the most creative and resourceful person I have ever met.  Proloquo2go is an application.  It turns your ipod into an AAC, without the huge price tag.

Today, I thought it was the time to try it out.  Moo already had a Ipod touch which he got prior to surgery to keep in occupied while in hospital and at home.  He flicks around it like you wouldn’t believe.  So much so that I had a person recently remark to me that she had judge Moo by his cover until she saw him use the Ipod touch.  That after seeing him use it, she had to go home and rethink the way she judges people.

So after downloading it, putting it on Moo’s Ipod touch, then having to put it on Master C’s Ipod touch (cause whatever Moo gets, Master C has to get too), all I can say is WOW!

Initially I thought the buttons were going to be a bit small for Moo’s stubby fingers.  But then I realised you can enlarge the icons.

I would love for it to have an Australian kids voice.  But the American voices don’t have much of an accent so they will do for now.  I’ve loaded up phrases for Moo such as “When I grow up I want to be a policeman” and “Will you please move out of my way”.  I watched Moo and Master C sit there and speak to each other with their devices.

The next problem is speakers and a mount so that we can put it on his powerchair.  For speakers, I’ve ordered the iMainGo.  I really want the Livespeakr portable speakers but they don’t deliver out of US.  I think I may order them off Ebay instead.  For mounting, I’ve ordered an In your face.  We will see how that goes.  I’m not convinced it will be stable enough but it’s a start and I was thinking I might use it at the gym for my Iphone

What excites me even more is news that the iTablet should be out next year.  I think it is the most exciting prospect for Moo to use at school, home and everywhere in between.  The school uses windows based computers but I’m not putting it in the too hard basket just yet.

What have you discovered lately that you now can’t live without?

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